Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Jay P. Williams

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Woodlawn Cemetery

Born:September 23, 1872 at Orland, IN

Entered
Service in the US Navy from Ohio

Earned The Medal of Honor During the China Relief For
heroism June 13 & 20 - 22, 1900 at China

Died:July
04, 1938 at the age of 65

Early at the
turn of the century a rebel force in China that called itself
the Society of "Righteous and Harmonious Fists",
subsequently called the "Boxers", initiated a
rebellion in China that threatened the legations of several
nations in Peking and Tientsen. Two detachments of Navy
Bluejackets and Marines from the U.S.S. Oregon and U.S.S. Newark
were dispatched as guards for the American Legations. On June 13
an estimated 50,000 Boxers began a two-month siege on Peking
during which seven men received Medals of Honor for repulsing an
attack by 300 militants with a bayonet charge. On June 20 the
American guard fought a full-day battle against hidden snipers,
and on June 21 turned fought a heated battle against a Chinese
cavalry charge. On June 22 the Bluejackets and Marines fought
their way through the wall of an enemy fort. Coxswain Jay
Williams was one of twenty members of this American Legation
Guard (of 59 total awards during the Boxer Rebellion) to be
awarded the Medal of Honor for meritorious conduct in the
presence of the enemy during all four of these engagements.